Volume 1, Issue 6 December 2006 Okinawa Budo Kai

O K I N AWA B U D O N E W S

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: T H E P A S S I N G O F S ENSEI S T E V E A RMSTRONG - Sensei Steve Armstrong 1 A M E R I C A N I SSHINRYU P I O N E E R 1931-2006

Dojo News 1 On November 15, 2006 where I started learning Sensei Steve Armstrong, Karate and what it is all 2 Sensei Roy Osborne an American Isshinryu about. My other instructors pioneer passed away. were good, but I wasn’t a 2 Let Us Not Forget good student. Karate was Sensei Armstrong was only a method of fighting 3 born in Guymon, Oklahoma for me until I met Master on September 22, 1931. Shimabuku.” Okinawa Karate 3 & 4 He grew up in Texas where he studied Karate and In 1960 he was part of Okinawa Culture 2 boxing. He entered the forming the American U. S. Marine Corp. Okinawan Karate Special points of interest: spending time on the Association and served as Japan mainland where he one of it’s officers on furthered his knowledge of Okinawa. • Black Belt Karate Karate. After serving in promotions Saturday, Korea, he was stationed in In 1961 he returned to the December 16, 2006 Washington D.C. attached U.S. and established an Begins 11:00 am to the Presidential Honor Isshinryu dojo in Tacoma, Guard. Sensei Armstrong Washington. • Promotion & Christmas left the Marine Corp to Party, Saturday attend college then December 16, 2006 re-enlisted in 1959. It was 7p till ? at this time he met and trained with Isshinryu’s • Sensei Roy Osborne founder, Master Tatsuo Nitan Bo Seminar Shimabuku in the Agena January 2007 Isshinryu Dojo. Discussing his training on Okinawa • Black Belt Kobudo with Master Shimabuku, promotions Sensei Armstrong is March 2007 quoted as saying, “This is

• Okinawa trip April 2007 D O J O N E W S - B L A C K B E L T P ROMOTION *CHANGE*

The Black Belt Karate family gatherings that Hope to see you there ! promotions, promotion occur as we get closer to party and Christmas party Christmas. Hopefully, this scheduled for Saturday new date will allow more December 23rd has been people to attend the changed to a week earlier festivities as well as on Saturday December 16, putting abit more pressure 2006. This was done to on the Black Belt accommodate the many candidates ;-) Okinawa Budo News Page 2 S ENSEI R O Y O S B O R N E - M O D E R N D A Y W A R R I O R

Sensei Roy Osborne III started occasionally in Matsumura Osborne continued these his martial arts career studying Shorinryu under Soken Hohan relationships with his teachers Judo in 1952 while his father Sensei, a direct descendant of through adulthood and his own was stationed in Kyushu, famed martial artist, Sokon service in the U.S. Army. Japan. Roy’s father was Army “Bushi” Matsumura. Roy also Sensei Osborne states:

Special Forces and in 1955 was trained under Oyata Seiyu “The main difference I see in assigned to duty in Okinawa. Sensei in RyuKyu Kenpo. the old way and the new is Sensei Osborne’s teenage years According to Sensei Osborne, Shorinji used an offensive were spent “mixing it up” with the old training was grueling on defense (attacking an attack the Okinawan youth where he Okinawa. His Okinawan with a more violent attack) found out that his Judo didn’t teachers were “not fond” of while the new system of work too well against Karate’s Americans so, when techniques Matsumura Seito and Kenshin Sensei Osborne & Kise Sensei kicks and punches. In 1958 his were shown, they were applied Kan use rather a defensive father returned to the U.S. with little mercy. Sensei offense. Both systems are where Roy began his karate Osborne says that often, in the excellent and what Kise Sensei training under Sensei Henry dojos he trained, the Okinawan teaches today still surpasses Slymanski, an Army Ranger Sensei would ask the most all other systems still Master Sergeant and close Americans to leave so the taught openly on Okinawa and friend of his father’s. His Okinawans could be shown abroad. Kise Sensei will always family moved back to Okinawa “special technique”. Being a be the father of my Karate and in 1960, Sensei Osborne teenager, he would ways of Shorinji and nothing began his Okinawa Karate occasionally be allowed to stay can change the love and studies with Kise Fusei Sensei and watch the training. He respect I have for my Sensei- of Shorinjiryu. He trained in would later mimic what he had O’Sensei Fusie Kise.” Kise Sensei’s dojo through seen and would get correction 1967 where he also trained from the teacher. Sensei Sensei Osborne & Oyata Sensei L E T U S N O T F O R G E T … … … . .

Much of the Karate and also give thanks and take for granted would Kobudo we practice prayers for those be in severe jeopardy.

today was brought to currently serving our “Semper Fi” the U.S. by American great country in these military service people. dangerous times. This holiday season Without their sacrafice, let’s not only thank practicing our martial them for bringing us art and enjoying the our martial arts, but many freedoms that we

The Mythical Creation of the RyuKyus

On the Chinen Peninsula of Hyakuna are where the She bore a son who would Southern Okinawa Island, a Ryukyuans supposedly first become the first sovereign, a stone incense burner sits in a cultivated rice. second son who would

narrow opening overlooking The goddess Amamikyo came become the first aristocrat Kudaka Island. This is Seefa forth to the Yaharachikasa (Aji), a daughter who would Utaki , a place of area near Hyakuna and Seefa become the first Noro thanksgiving for the Utaki. Her husband, the god priestess, and a third boy, blessings brought by the Shinerikyo, accompanied who would become the land. According to legend, Amamikyo. They decended patriarch of the common folk. the divine ancestors of from heaven to an island modern Okinawans brought drifting on the waves, planted five fruits and grains to their a tree and claimed the land. prosperity through Kudaka Later, Amamikyo conceived Island. The two springs children through the wind. south of Seefa Utaki near Okinawa Budo News Page 3

Kakushi Buki - The Hidden Weapons of Okinawa

Many of the larger fam tools and showing Carol that the spoon was ends are used for focused punches fishing implements of RyuKyu used for oiling the hair. She then and strikes while the sides of the Kobudo are well known. The Bo, placed the hairpin through her hair weapons work well on hard bone , Tuifa, and Eku are common in and suddenly pulled it out targets. most Kobudo systems. But, there is aggressively with her thumb over a group of weapons called the spoon and the spike poised in a “Kakushi Buki” or hiden weapons striking fashion. She explained to that were utilized by even the Carol that while in the hair, the jifa common person in Okinawa. can be pulled out for self defense, “Kakushi Buki”. During one trip to Okinawa, Carol

Womack purchased an oldstyle The jifa as an emergency weapon ladies hairpin called Kanzashi in has developed into Ryukyu Kobudo’s Tichu. The , a well known weapon of Ryukyu Kobudo is also minaturized in Okinawa for better concealment. The San Setsu or three sectional Nunchaku is easily hidden on the body and becomes a formidable weapon when needed.

Aother “Kakushi Buki of

Japanese or Jifa in Okinawa Okinawa is the Tijikun Bo. Hogen. The long metal hairpin “Tijikun” is Okinawa dialect for sported a sharpend point at one end fist. These small “Fist Bo’s” and a small spoon at the other. At originated as floats on fishing nets. the hotel, the mama san owner was Concealed in the hand, it’s tapered

R Y U K Y U K O B U D O —T I N B E & R O C H I N

The Tinbe-Rochin weapon commonly found in vine or be circular in order to avoid combination is one of the least cane, metal, or turtle shell. The excessive contact with the known Okinawan weapon shield size is generally about shield. The short spear is systems, however its use is 45 cm long and 38 cm wide. predominantly used in an more reminiscent of Zulu The length of the rochin (short upward stabbing motion, fighting and European sword spear) is usually equivalent to piercing armor under the rib and small shield fighting. the length of the forearm and cage, armpits, and throat Weapons of this nature can be can be found in many differing although dependent upon the found in most cultures designs varying from spears to type of Rochin used, slashing throughout the world. short swords and machete-style motions can also be employed. The tinbe (shield) can be made implements. http://en.wikipedia.org/ of various materials but is In use, the techniques tend to

B USAGANASHI —D I E T Y O F T H E M A RT I A L A R T S

Busaganashi is a Chinese brought it back to Okinawa. White Crane martial arts The scroll was eventually deity. It is most commonly destroyed during WW II. A associated with Okinawa student of Miyagi’s had a Gojuryu Karate and is used photo of Busaganashi and, in many Gojuryu dojo while visiting the logos. Philippines, contracted a

The founder of Gojuryu, local sculptor to carve a Miyagi Chojun, traveled to statue of the deity. It was China with his friend and given as a gift to Miyagi White Crane teacher Sensei and today sits within Gokenki. There he acquired the Jundokan Dojo, in Naha, a scroll of Busaganashi and Okinawa. Comments from Nakazato Joen Sensei, Judan Okinawa Shorinjiryu Okinawa Budo Kai When directly asked about this punch (vertical & 3/4 twist) in my 2005 interview in Chinen (i.e. what Kyan sensei actually taught, and about the origin of the Seibukan 3/4 punch, etc) Joen sensei immediately and spontaneously 33606 Seven Mile Rd. demonstrated this punch from his chair (as seen in Bishop and in Nagamine books) to demonstrate the punch Kyan used when punching jodan, but he was categorical that this was not what was specifically taught or transmitted to any Livonia, MI. 48152 student, including Zenryo and Tatsuo. He said he knew this because he would see Tatsuo there at Kyans training, and Phone: 800-963-BUDO occasionally partner him..and Zenryo too, but Zenryo was there less often as "he was always so busy with his business" He said Kyan sensei stated clearly that this was his OWN punch and that as such this was a personal variation and should not (was not and according to Joen sensei Kyan said specifically SHOULD not) be directly transmitted through the kata and that all protagonists, Zenryo, Tatsuo plus Nakazato, Okuhara, etc ALL did the full rotation in kata and exclusively so, as this was the way taught by Kyan sensei. The point made was a matter of broad principle when teaching kata: that personal variations (although permitted in individual kata performance as part of a shou-sho (sp?) development out of kaisho kata, the analogy being of first block printing through cursive to personal handwriting or We’re On the Web! calligraphy) should not be transmitted directly, and that personal variations were just that: personal variations. This was the problem of trying to imitate or copy someone's "shou-sho kata" He dedicated his 2003 seminar at the tournament at www.okinawabudokai.org Budokan Naha to this issue. He says you should always learn the way of the kaisho kata from seniors and develop your own kata from there, not try to imitate a "shousho" version (he spelled it shosho in his notes handed out) This was due to the fact that if you are imitating a senior's kata from a junior perspective, you would in the process miss the mechanics that have to be learned from the kihon as taught in the kaisho version. In other words you cannot take a short cut kaisho to shousho because you don't understand exactly what that short cut is! It was these personal variations of punch and emphasis on stance or stylistic interpretation that appear to serve (deliberately?) to distinguish the post war "We bring Okinawa Kyan schools from, say Chibana-ha, and, in the process, distinguishes them from each other. Having said that, Nakazato sensei maintains "I am confident I have the kata of Kyan sensei" on the basis that he did not introduce or to our students." transmit any personal variations, but teaches the kata he remembers being taught in the way taught, according to this principle of teaching kaisho for the individual to subsequently develop their own "shousho". In this come the notion of cultural transmission of "Show me the first two steps and (having been shown the path) I will be able to show you the tenth" The variations you see in Shorinji are I believe as a result of varying success in developing shousho versions of kata and the deliberate absence of enforced standardization found in a 'modern' approach whereby everyone has to look the same. It is, after all, a personal journey for us all.

From the notes of Sensei D.J. Davis, Shorinjiryu

Comments on Karate Training by Sokoun “Bushi” Matsumura 1809-1899

"Make a firm resolution to like movements of dance; this chance and defeats the master the secrets of martial superficial and of no practical enemy. Everything ripens and arts, otherwise go away. You use for offense and defense. A the mystery of nature shows its must have the firm secret to the master of martial determination to accomplish the arts, who has no hesitation or resolution. disturbance in his mind even in case of emergency. The power The sword and the pen are but of a tiger and the swiftness of one. Literature consists of an eagle dwell within him. he poetry, exegetics, and defeats enemies completely and Confucianism. A student of shows his loyalty and filial piety. poetry works at words and There are seven virtues in produces sentences in order to martial arts: the prohibition of seek fame, peerage and fief. A violence, the control of soldiers, student of exegetics studies the support for people's need, Chinese classics to instruct the establishment of people. He may make a scholar distinguished services, the relief but ignorant of the world. of the poor, the settlement of Poetry and exegetics only make “Bushi” Matsumura disputes among people and the people woo fame, thus they are enrichment of assets. As seen in not the true art. Confucianism, his teachings, Confucius also however, makes us understand normal student of martial arts is praised these virtues. Thus the the nature of things. By the a good promiser of victory, but sword and the pen are but one, teachings on knowledge, a bad performer. A dispute whereas the scholar's martial honesty, and righteousness one caused by such a man will harm arts and the ostensible martial may not only be able to manage people as well as himself. It will arts are useless. Therefore a household but govern a even bring disgrace upon his study the true literary and country. Thus peace will reign parents, brothers and sisters. martial arts. Be sure to watch over the land. These are The true pursuer of martial arts, for a chance and then strike Confucian ideas, the true art. however, does not idle away his into the enemy. Keep the above In the case of martial arts, time but accomplishes his talk words in mind and practice there are three kinds of ingeniously. He controls his hard. I wish you understand my pursuers. A scholar pictures mind and watches for a chance. unreserved words." many ways of training in his His calm arouses a disturbance www.ihadojo.com mind so that his moves become among enemies. He then grabs